Buy Rain Gear, Save the World

Yes—it’s just that simple folks. With just a pair of waterproof shoes, pants and a jacket, you can save the whole damn planet.

Ever notice how much worse traffic is when it rains? Where I live, in the Pacific Northwest, you’d think we’d be used to it. But nope. Rain equals terrible traffic, every time.

And it’s not just traffic. Public transit is worse too. Busses are packed, and they’re like saunas when you get on. I’d almost rather they kept them freezing cold than the sweatboxes they become in the rain.

Traffic is worse because all the people who may have walked or cycled are now driving. Or Uber-ing or taxiing. And public transit is maxed out for the same reason—and they’re not gonna run more busses based on weather.

Add to that a slower pace of travel and worse visibility and… well…

…Getting around by vehicle the rain sucks.

There’s an old saying: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just unsuitable clothing.”

(This has been popularized as: “No such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing!” But the original quote, from Alfred Wainwright, is as above.)

This is where “buy rain gear, save the world” comes in. Because most people think urban rainwear is an umbrella or a good jacket. But they forget about the entire lower Half of their body—so they still get soaked.

As such, the idea of walking or cycling in the rain is very unappealing.

But once you slip into a pair of weatherproof footwear (honestly, old school rubber boots are the best), pair them with rain pants and a matching jacket—toss on a pair of sailing gloves for cycling—you are waterproof.

And that means you don’t have to drive. You don’t have to queue up for a crowded bus. You can use whatever low-carbon footprint form of active transportation you want: walk, cycle, scooter…

…Whatever.

You arrive dry and fresh. It’s usually cool out, so you don’t sweat or overheat. You’ll blow by traffic, all jammed up in the rain-congestion.

And you’ll take that excuse of “I can’t cycle, it’s raining” and wash it down the drain.

Now, think if millions of people did this. Just wore better, more weather-resistant clothing. And then we all went outside and celebrated the rain, rather than hunkered in our cars, taxis and Ubers.

We’d save the damn world.